Central Falls, Rhode Island
Central Falls is a city of 22,701 people in Providence County, Rhode Island.
Why visit Central Falls
Townapedia lists 82 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 23 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, Stump Hill, Central Falls Congregational Church and Central Falls Mill Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 19°F, and about 42 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Central Falls
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Central Falls
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,583 at the 2020 census. With an area of only 1.29 square miles (3.3 km2), it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 23rd most densely populated incorporated place in the United States.
From the Wikipedia article Central Falls, Rhode Island (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre
Cinema and theater · 1.0 mi
Theatre in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United State, housed in the Pawtucket Armory Center for the Arts
Museums and landmarks82
Central Falls Congregational Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Church building in Rhode Island, United States of America
Central Falls Mill Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, USA
Central Street School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
School building in Rhode Island, United States of America
Collyer Monument
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Sculpture in Rhode Island, United States of America
Pawtucket City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Rathaus in Rhode Island, United States of America
Pawtucket Congregational Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Library in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States
13 Summer Street, Pawtucket
Quality Hill Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic district in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
South Central Falls Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in Rhode Island, United States
American Supply Company Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
United States historic place
Art's Auto
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
United States historic place
Benjamin F. Greene House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Rhode Island, United States
70 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
Wanskuck Park
Park · 2.9 mi
Park in Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Dennis M Lynch Arena
Sports field and stadium · 0.7 mi
25 Andrew D. Ferland Way, Pawtucket
Centreville Bank Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.5 mi
150 Taft Street, Pawtucket
Fairlawn Park
Park · 1.2 mi
Small park wih basketball and baseball and jungle gym areas, divided by a small pond.
Ryan Archembault Memorial Park
Park · 1.1 mi
Small memorial park with many places to sit and view pond, on somewhat steep hill.
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes23
Bandidos Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi
88 Broad Street, Cumberland
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Modern Diner
Restaurant · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
364 East Avenue, Pawtucket
Mo-Su 07:00-13:00
Lincoln Creamery
Restaurant · Ice Cream · 1.3 mi
276 Front Street, Lincoln
Tu-Su 12:00-22:00
11 more on the map.
History
Before Europeans arrived, the area was home to Nipmuc, Wampanoag and Narragansett peoples.
Central Falls has historic significance as the site of a major battle during King Philip's War. It was here, on March 26, 1676, that Narragansett Indians ambushed Captain Michael Pierce and his Plymouth Colony troops who, with 20 Christian Wampanoag Indians, were pursuing them. Nearly all those ambushed were killed, including nine taken prisoner and later tortured to death at nearby Cumberland. A stone memorial marks the mass grave at the site known as "Nine Men's Misery".
In the 18th century, Captain Stephen Jenks built a trip hammer and blacksmith shop along the Blackstone River, forming the nucleus of what eventually became Central Falls. Other manufacturers, including a chocolate maker, set up shop in the building, and the new village became known as Chocolateville.
In 1824, Jenks suggested the name Central Falls, thus giving the village its permanent name. Central Falls was incorporated as a town in 1730.
From the History section of Central Falls, Rhode Island on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship38
Saylesville Meeting House
Church · Quaker · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
374 Great Road, Lincoln
Saint Paul's Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Trinity Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.4 mi
1030 Dexter Street, Central Falls
Shopping1
Price Rite Marketplace of Pawtucket
Grocery · 0.7 mi
465 Lonsdale Avenue, Pawtucket
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries76
Healthcare4
Map of Central Falls
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 4.4 in | 12.3 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 3.7 in | 10.7 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.9 in | 7.6 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 4.7 in | 1.9 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 5.1 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 33°F | 4.2 in | 1.0 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 25°F | 5.3 in | 7.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Woonsocket (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Providence County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-03-20: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-03-20: Severe Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-01-07: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2022-05-12: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2021-08-21: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
North Central State Airport (SFZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Providence 5 mi south, about 8 min by car
- Attleboro 6 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- North Attleborough Town 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Franklin Town 13 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Taunton 15 mi east, about 25 min by car
- Somerset 16 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Fall River 19 mi southeast, about 31 min by car
- Milford 19 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Bridgewater Town 22 mi east, about 36 min by car
- Brockton 23 mi northeast, about 37 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Central Falls Street, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Collyer Monument, Pawtucket RI, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central Falls Congregational Church 2013, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Post Office, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- PawtucketRI QualityHill StJosephsSchool, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Central Street School from southwest, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pawt church, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- South Central Falls Historic District, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Saylesville Friends Meetinghouse Quaker in Lincoln RI Rhode Island, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Former site of Patterson Brothers Commercial Building Cumberland RI, Kenneth C Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Saint Pauls Pawtucket, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Pawtucket Power Plant, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Division Street Bridge Pawtucket, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- One Lonsdale Avenue, Pawtucket RI, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CentralFallsRI AmericanSupplyCompanyBuilding2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Potter-Collyer House, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Built by Rossiter C Stark, Providence RI, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pawtucket Armory 2013, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Swan Point Cemetery entrance, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PawtucketRI FirstWardWardroom, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 41 Waldo Street, Pawtucket RI, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hearthside Lincoln Rhode Island, Swampyank at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Modern diner, Improbcat, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Benjamin F. Greene House Central Falls RI, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nathaniel Montgomery House, Pawtucket RI, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Liberty Arming the Patriot, Pawtucket, RI-2, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Berkeley Mill RI, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- David G. Fales House corner view, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LincolnRI IsraelArnoldHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 17 Nickerson Street, Pawtucket RI, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LincolnRI Saylesville 3, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LincolnRI JenckesHouse OldLouisquissetPike, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Matthews Church-2013, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cumberland Town Hall RI, Marcbela (Marc N Belanger), Public domain
- LincolnRI ShermanAveKiln, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- AttleboroMA HerbertASadlerHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main Bridge Pawtucket, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- PawtucketRI JohnEAdamsHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pawtucket slater mill, dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- LincolnRI ElliotHarrisMinerHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.